How to Read Tea Leaves

RETURN TO REVERENCE

JULIETTE JARVIS

Tasseomancy is the art of using tea leaves, coffee grounds or wine sediment as a method of divination, and something I love about it is how widespread and accessible this very social practice is. Throughout European, Middle Eastern, and Asian countries are so very many cultures with long tasseomancy histories, unique nuances, and differing methodologies, but they all involve looking into the bottom of our drinking vessel with an inquiry in mind and interpreting what we see. There may be an elaborate ritual or ceremony, or a jovial, off the cuff, even slightly tipsy spontaneous invitation.

The way I was taught, was to drink my tea almost entirely, leaving behind any loose tea with just barely enough liquid to swirl them in. If an inquiry hadn’t already been set while steeping and drinking, it is set at this point. Next, we turn our cup 3 full rotations clockwise, then with one swift motion, tip the cup completely upside down onto a saucer or absorbent cloth. Whatever is left in the cup is what we read. Letting our imagination help us find shapes, impressions, or symbols both made of the tea leaves themselves or of the white space around them, paves the way for making our unique personal associations and interpretations. It can take a little time, looking at it from all sorts of angles, and sometimes a friend may see something we don’t, but even a shapeless blob can still represent “something” especially when adding in a timeline as being represented within our cup. I use two ways to consider forecasting into the future with our cups. One for handled vessels and one for tumbler style without a handle.

With a handle turned toward our body, that point represents the present moment. Looking along the sides of our cup moving clockwise from the handle brings us into the future. How far into the future? Ahhh well, as with many oracles, there is a bit of ambiguity. With a handle-less cup, the present moment is along the rim and the future moves downward toward the bottom. In both cases, the bottom could be seen as giving an overall message.

With any form of divination, asking the right question is almost more important than the answer. “Should I date this person?” is a lot different than, “Will I be happy and feel loved dating this person?” Even quantifiers like “Is it in my highest good?” can lead us through unwelcome tumultuous experiences. Holding ethical integrity within our practice also means we never read for another without direct, expressed consent. Sorry, “my higher self asked their higher self” isn’t direct permission.

I’m off to put the kettle on. How about you?

Juliette Jarvis offers sacred living programs online, devotional arts, and divination sessions. Find her at www.3FoldBalance.com and www.SelkieSanctuary.com